Expertise
Integration into modern production systems
Kerstin Barth | 31.05.2022
Like conventional rearing, cow-based rearing requires a number of things: its integration into general management should be well thought out.
Just as in conventional rearing systems, calves in dam rearing have certain requirements: calves must have access to a lying area with dry bedding, feed and water. From time to time these calves also need to be examined and when necessary treated. Thus, a separate calf area has to be provided.
Inclusion in the daily management has to be well considered. We took advantage of the natural behavior of wild cattle and built our calf area attached to the lying area of the milking herd.
Calves can move from one area to the other via a transponder controlled selection gate.. Thus, the kindergarten – a group exclusively for the young calves, which is a typical appearance in wild cattle – can develop. In the calf area feed is provided in calf adequate form (height of drinkers and feeders). Cow and calf can be separated easily and animal handling is simplified.
Further links
Other practical examples can be found in the Guide to Cow-Based Calf Rearing (in German) or in the fact sheet (in German) of the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
